Aston Martin Committed To Lagonda Comeback, But Does It Have The Money?

When Aston Martin previewed the rebirth of the Lagonda brand with a polarizing SUV concept at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, few were optimistic about its success. In the years since, there has been little progress in this area but it appears Aston Martin remains committed to Lagonda’s comeback, even in the face of its own financial troubles.

While an SUV based on the 2009 concept isn’t necessarily in the works, Aston Martin CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez is confident a new Lagonda model will be launched.

“I am confident in the future we will see a Lagonda on the road,” Bez revealed to Drive. “I cannot say [it will be] in three weeks or three years, but I am confident it will be there.”

One of the biggest hurdles for Aston Martin will be finding the necessary funds to fuel Lagonda’s comeback. According to the The Telegraph, Aston Martin lost 24.6 British pounds (approximately $39.3 million) in 2012, up from a loss of 21.2 million British pounds ($33.9 million) the previous year; this, at a time, when luxury sales are booming.

Aston Martin’s existing lineup is also in need of renewal. The Vantage, in its basic form, has been in production since 2005 and the DB9, though updated over the years, has been around since 2004.

One hope is in the form of new investor Investindustrial, which together with existing Aston Martin shareholder Investment Dar, plans to inject more than half a billion pounds ($798.4 million) of much needed funds into Aston Martin’s coffers over the next five years.

In addition to the uncertainty of the viability of any Lagonda comeback, what’s also unclear is what form any new Lagonda model will take. Though an SUV like the 2009 is the most logical, given the strong demand for such vehicles where luxury sales are growing, Bez in the past has hinted that a number of alternatives are being considered. Whatever the outcome, it looks like it’s going to be a very long wait until we see the first new Lagonda since the Aston Martin Lagonda sedan of the 1980s.